Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, June 2

In a major lapse on the part of Health Department officials, a Covid positive granthi not only attended a bhog, but also distributed ‘parsad’ to hundreds of area residents at Sakraudi village on Tuesday. After the granthi and his wife’s reports came out Covid positive last evening, they isolated themselves at their residence.

Cabinet Minister Vijay Inder Singla and former Sangrur MLA Parkash Chand Garg too attended the bhog of farmer leader Karmjit Singh at the village gurdwara.

“After I developed some cough and fever, I went for Covid testing on May 31. The report came out positive on the evening of June 1. I attended the bhog and distributed ‘parsad’ by keeping my face covered. The reports of all my contacts are negative,” said the granthi.

Testing attendees

Today we took 30 swab samples and all tested negative. We will hold another camp on Thursday and test all area residents. —Surinder Kaur, Asha worker

Many residents criticised the granthi for attending the bhog without getting his Covid report. “The granthi and his wife should have kept themselves in isolation to prevent the further spread of Covid. There is resentment in the village. Today we took 30 swab samples and all are negative. Tomorrow we would organise another camp and conduct the sampling of all area residents,” said Surinder Kaur, an Asha worker at Sakraudi village.

Singla confirmed that he attended the bhog and appealed to area residents to get themselves tested. “I appeal to all area residents to get tested immediately to prevent the spread of virus. We have already lost many our friends and relatives, who did not get tested .I have directed the Civil Surgeon to provide all necessary facilities in the village” said Singla.